Council cashing in on newly hip Wollongong

By
JOSHUA BUTLER

The lane behind IPAC is now buzzing at night thanks to Wollongong's latest cafes, bars and restaurants. Pictures: ANDY ZAKELI

Even a few years ago, Wollongong's late-night options were limited to noisy pubs or pulsating nightclubs.

No more; now home to dozens of small bars, cafes and late-trading restaurants, the city is gradually embracing the idea of an evening economy; a process Wollongong City Council hopes will be sped up and supported by its new cultural plan.

Of the suite of documents - also including the cultural and live music action plans - the evening economy plan will most shake up how Wollongong is viewed as a city.

The Australian Night Time Economy report, released last year, valued the national evening economy at $92 billion in 2011, a figure Mr Grimson said would be much higher now. The council's evening economy plan offers a raft of proposals to spruce up the CBD between 5pm and midnight, including encouraging retailers and venues like galleries to stay open later, and providing better parking options in the city.

"The city is becoming more cosmopolitan, which will increase with new residential development," Mr Grimson said, citing the Mercury's report last Saturday that $1 billion in development would pour into the CBD in coming years.

An influx of more than 20 small bars and cafes in the last two years has reshaped ideas of late night socialising in the CBD. Whiskey bar Howlin Wolf is a newer player, but among the most diverse in its offerings, with art exhibitions, blues bands, movie nights and table-top board games. Bar owner Manny Mavridis said moves towards late night trade would boost Wollongong's profile.

"It's becoming like Melbourne and Sydney. The culture is changing, people want to be in the city at night," he said.

"There is more variety in Wollongong now, more options and things to do."